Friday, February 21
Santa Barbara, Calif.
7:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
UC Santa Barbara
Austin Wilmot
Photo by: Martin A. Folb
Men's Volleyball Travels to UCSB, Grand Canyon
2/18/2020 1:31:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
MALIBU, California — The #6 Pepperdine men's volleyball team has a busy weekend on the road coming up with Friday's non-conference clash at #3 UC Santa Barbara and Sunday's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation battle at #13 Grand Canyon.
JT Ardell was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
MATCH #10 — Friday (February 21) at Robertson Gymnasium in Santa Barbara, California: #6 Pepperdine (6-3, 3-1) at #3 UC Santa Barbara (8-2, at UCLA on Wednesday) at 7 p.m.
MATCH #11 — Sunday (February 23) at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona: #6 Pepperdine at #13 Grand Canyon (10-3, 2-1, hosts UCLA on Friday) at 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT.
WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches will be live streamed by the host schools. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENTS — Pepperdine is 72-35 all-time against UCSB. The Waves have won three in a row and four of the last five ... Pepperdine is 4-1 all-time against Grand Canyon. The Waves have won three in a row since losing in Phoenix in 2018.
LAST WEEK — The Waves won both MPSF home matches last week, first rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Concordia in five sets, and then sweeping USC. The Waves' stat leaders included Jacob Steele (3.12 kills/set), Joe Karlous (11.12 assists/set), Alex Gettinger (0.50 aces/set), Noah Dyer (2.38 digs/set), JT Ardell (2.00 blocks/set) and Austin Wilmot (3.69 points/set).
NCAA STATS — Austin Wilmot ranks fourth nationally in hitting percentage (.456) and 14th in blocks (1.11).
NEW LOOK — After graduating the bulk of last year's lineup, the Waves have a much different look in 2020. 76.3% of the kills so far have been recorded by players not in last year's regular rotation, and 54.6% of have been made by players in their first year on the court for Pepperdine (including redshirts and transfers).
NEXT — The Waves will be facing UC Santa Barbara twice in less than a week, with the return match in Firestone Fieldhouse next Wednesday (Feb. 26).
50 SEASONS — This is the 50th season for Pepperdine men's volleyball — which began in 1971 — and the program's rich history will be celebrated throughout this spring's schedule. All Pepperdine men's volleyball alums will be welcomed back for the March 15 match vs. Harvard. The Waves will also celebrate each decade at various matches, including February 26 vs. UCSB (1980s), March 11 vs. Jamestown (1990s), March 21 vs. NJIT (2000s) and April 11 vs. Stanford (2010s).
2020 HONORS — JT Ardell was named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on February 17 after averaging 2.00 blocks/set in home wins over Concordia and USC in what were the first two starts of his career ... Diego Perez was named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on January 20 after averaging a team-best 2.18 digs/set in the Waves' three-match East Coast trip.
AVCA POLL — Pepperdine opened the 2020 season at #9 in the AVCA rankings. The Waves are up to a season-best #6 (tied with UC Irvine) this week. Last season, they stayed between #6 (where they started) and #3 (where they finished) the entire year.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #50 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
JT Ardell was named the MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
MATCH #10 — Friday (February 21) at Robertson Gymnasium in Santa Barbara, California: #6 Pepperdine (6-3, 3-1) at #3 UC Santa Barbara (8-2, at UCLA on Wednesday) at 7 p.m.
MATCH #11 — Sunday (February 23) at GCU Arena in Phoenix, Arizona: #6 Pepperdine at #13 Grand Canyon (10-3, 2-1, hosts UCLA on Friday) at 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT.
WATCH/ONLINE — Both matches will be live streamed by the host schools. Links to broadcasts and live stats can be found at PepperdineWaves.com.
OPPONENTS — Pepperdine is 72-35 all-time against UCSB. The Waves have won three in a row and four of the last five ... Pepperdine is 4-1 all-time against Grand Canyon. The Waves have won three in a row since losing in Phoenix in 2018.
LAST WEEK — The Waves won both MPSF home matches last week, first rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Concordia in five sets, and then sweeping USC. The Waves' stat leaders included Jacob Steele (3.12 kills/set), Joe Karlous (11.12 assists/set), Alex Gettinger (0.50 aces/set), Noah Dyer (2.38 digs/set), JT Ardell (2.00 blocks/set) and Austin Wilmot (3.69 points/set).
NCAA STATS — Austin Wilmot ranks fourth nationally in hitting percentage (.456) and 14th in blocks (1.11).
NEW LOOK — After graduating the bulk of last year's lineup, the Waves have a much different look in 2020. 76.3% of the kills so far have been recorded by players not in last year's regular rotation, and 54.6% of have been made by players in their first year on the court for Pepperdine (including redshirts and transfers).
NEXT — The Waves will be facing UC Santa Barbara twice in less than a week, with the return match in Firestone Fieldhouse next Wednesday (Feb. 26).
50 SEASONS — This is the 50th season for Pepperdine men's volleyball — which began in 1971 — and the program's rich history will be celebrated throughout this spring's schedule. All Pepperdine men's volleyball alums will be welcomed back for the March 15 match vs. Harvard. The Waves will also celebrate each decade at various matches, including February 26 vs. UCSB (1980s), March 11 vs. Jamestown (1990s), March 21 vs. NJIT (2000s) and April 11 vs. Stanford (2010s).
2020 HONORS — JT Ardell was named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on February 17 after averaging 2.00 blocks/set in home wins over Concordia and USC in what were the first two starts of his career ... Diego Perez was named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week on January 20 after averaging a team-best 2.18 digs/set in the Waves' three-match East Coast trip.
AVCA POLL — Pepperdine opened the 2020 season at #9 in the AVCA rankings. The Waves are up to a season-best #6 (tied with UC Irvine) this week. Last season, they stayed between #6 (where they started) and #3 (where they finished) the entire year.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY — Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 18 schools to have accomplished this feat — and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 25 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, three times (most recently in 2011-12). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #50 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
